Engine



Nov. 24, 1925. 1,562,722

J. G. PLEMMONS ENGINE Filed Nov. 1, 1920 a Sheets-Sheet 1 [6. P/mmazz:

\ INVENTOR ra WM My 6000141 ATTORNEY Nov. '24, 1925 1,562,722

J. G. F'LEMMONS v ENGINE Filed mi. 1. 1920 s Sheets-Sheet 2 f d [lav/M20225 I U VAJMM BY WITNESS: A TORNEY Nov. 24, 1925.

J. G. PLEMMONS ENGINE Filed Nov. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z 6: Plea/120 I INVENTOF! Nov. 24, 1925- 1,562,722

4 J. G. PLEMMONS ENGINE Filed Nov. 1920 s Sheets-Sheet 5 W I i m o f/Z By W WIT I': ATTORNEY Nov; 24 1925.-

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J. G. PLEMMONS ENGINE Filed Nov. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 J, Plan/72022:.

Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT ounce.-

ENGINE.

Application filed November 1, 1920.

To all 107mm it may concern.

Be it known that I, J 0113 Gr. PLnMMoNs, a born citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful lniprovements in Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rotary engine more particularly designed for use with combustible fuel and the principal. object of the invention is to revolve the rotor by a series of explosions which are arranged to take place at two opposite points simultaneously while a new charge is being drawn in at two other opposite points, said new charges being compressed and the exhaust gases expelled as the rotor is moving forwardly.

Another object of the invention is to form a pair of chambers between the rotor and an inner stationary partoit the engine to act as suction and compression chambers and another pair oi chambers between the rotor and an outer stationary part of the engine for acting as explosion cl'ian'ibers for the explosive gases.

Still. another object oi" the invention is to provide spring controlled swinging abutments for the chambers for controlling the flow oi gas thereto, said members being arranged in pairs with the springs of each pair working together to keep the swinging abutments in engagement with the walls of the rotor.

A urthm' object of the invention is to provide lubricating means for the movable parts which act by centrifugal force.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the con'ibination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, il llustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure l is a front view of an engine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure rear view.

Serial No. 421,146. l t

Figure 3 is a sectional view. Flgure i is a sectional view taken on line 'ell: of Figure 3.

Figure is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 1s an end View.

As shown in these views the body of. the 1 the circular walls of the outerpart and two portions concentric with and engaging the circular walls of the inner part, these concentric portions being connected together by the tangentially arranged intermediate portions. Thus the concentric portions which engage the outer part of the body form abutments against which the expanding gases will act and these concentric portions also form a pair of inner chambers 7 while the other concentric portions form a pair of outer chambers 8, these chambers being completed by the circular walls of the inner and outer parts of the body. It will thus be seen that the rotor is of channel shape with the channel being formed upon its interior wall at two opposite portions and the other two opposite portions having the channel formed upon the exterior thereof. The rotor has its outer end connected with the hub S) by the circular plate 10, the outer periphery of which is curved and extends within the space between. the inner and outer-parts of the body. Said hub 9 connected with the axle 11 which is join'naled in the central of the chambers 13 and 14;, these members being connected with the shafts 16 rotatably mounted in the body and carrying at their outer ends the coiled springs 17 which have their free ends connected together by the link 18. These springs are so arranged that the members 15 and 15' are held against the inner and outer faces of the rotor.

As will be seen thecham-hers .13 -.-will communicate with the chambers 7 of the rotor as said rotor revolves while the outer chambers 1% will communicate with the chambers 8 of the rotor and said swinging abutment 15 will act to cut off one portion ofeach chamber 7 withthe other portion during the rotation of the rotor while the swinging abutment 15 .will act to cut off oneportion of each chamber 8 with the other portion as the rotor rotates. At small p0rt 1;9 is'formed in the wall of.each of" the chambers 13 and a like port 20 is formedin the wall of each of the chambers 14, these ports being separated from the chambers 18 and'll-"by the swinging abutment 15 andj15 and said swinging abutment-15 and-i15"are each provided with concaved faces-'21 for connecting-the ports :1L9 and 20.with theehambers 7 and. 8 when the cut off members are extending into-the :chambers 7 and :8. A spark plug22 extends -into e'ach of the recesses 20. A 'passage23 connectseachjof the ;ports'1-9 with a port '20.

A carburetor is. seciiredto the 'lrontof the engine and afmani'foldf25 leads the explosive mix'ture from this carburcter 'into the chambers 13 and exhaust manifolds -26 are connected with outlet ports 27 communi- 1 eating with 1 the chambers 14.

*Itwill be seenthat a vacuum will be created in the'front part ,lofthe chamber '7 in rear of the swinging abutments -15 iso that the explosive inixtilre is drawn from the carburetor 'through the manifold, into the chamber. 13 and into that p art of the cham- (her "7 in rear of] the cut-off; Thus said chamber 7 'isjiilled withthe explosive "mixtu'reand'the'same action 'is taking place in the opposite chamber "7 At'this time the gas'which was in 'the chambers infront of j the swinging abutment' at the beginning of the quarter turn is 'be in'g 'iforcedinto the ports Ll9 passages 23 andportsflQO where it is compressed so'that atthe end off thisquarterfrevolution we have two opposite passages 23 and 1 their ports lilledwith compressed gases and the'i' chan bersw flilled with gas readyto be passed into ann e two sages. Y

' D rin t sam ne ii i 'b inv lu the 1 i nit n Pla e i h w :vp'pe messag wh c w r fil w t ..p fes a "th th nexpl ded Ism actin M s th i an m et fo hump of he rotor will1 'ilr ive" s same forwardly, the en n iins s he .ibei sse ifi ed e een the i 1sn? 1 i'= @1 t s in n ab m n During this same quarter revolution the exhaust of previous work stroke is also driven out through the exhaust ports into the exhaust manifolds.

It will thus be seen that we have the four operations of intake, compression, explosion, and exhaust all carried out every quarter 'revolution and on opposite sides of the retor, thus making the ignition in pairs and giving four pairs of ignition per revolution.

Two operations are going on all the time, one-in front and one behind each cut-otl' port. At all times opposite cut-off ports are performing the same function andare at the same period in that function. In other words, the four operations of intake, compression, explosion, and exhaust go abreast or hand in hand by which means there is no idle stroke involved in the cycle. 'Hence, one pair of work strokes begin where-the other pair-was completed; and the process is re- ;peated continuously.

'The springs 17 for'the swinging abutments are so arranged that they will. put forth their greatest pull at the time the swinging abutments ride over the humps of the rotorand most need the pull.

The 'bofdy of themotor is provided with thcusual water jacket -to which water is provided in any desire'd manner.

The rotor is also provided with four rings '28, the-outer pair o'f which contacts against the rotor while the inner pair expand against the'rotor to prevent leakage of gases from the sides.

I also place a flange 29 in each of the inner chambers 13, just back of each intake cutoff so as to'secure a slight increase in the length of the intake stroke. This included with thelong arc with a quarter turn of "the rotor-secures a great length of stroke. By having the ignition take place on oppositesides of the rotor at the same time the thrust is. eliminated and the roller bearings reduce friction to a minimum.

The engine is oiled by centrifugal force by providing an oil hoop 30 on therear oi. the engine'and which is adapted to rotate with the hub and-this hoop is connected with the oil passages in the rotor bythe radial tubes 31. This hoop 30 is open at one side as indicated at and extending'through this open sideis ailubricant supply pipe 38 whiehhas communication with a lubricant reservoir (not shown).

Byimy inventionpower can be taken from the hub or shaft, thuseliininating the trformation of power from a reeiproc 21g toa rot ary fornr by means of the crank shaft and its-associated part.

It is-thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

desire it to be nnd'estood that Inlay make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l vhat I claim is 1. An engine of the class described comprising a body having an annular space therein, a rotor located in said space and formed with pairs of portions concentric with the casing, one pair of said portions being connected with the other pair, elements arranged tangential with respect to the casing, one pair of the portions forming interior chambers and the other pair exterior chambers, swinging abutments arranged in pairs and extending into said chambers and engaging the rotor, means for :l'ccding an explosive charge to the rear side of one pair of swinging abutments, nleai'in i'or transferring compressed gas from the interior chambers to the exterior chambers, and means for firing the charge in front of the opposite swinging abutments, and means tor exhausing the exploded gases.

2. An engine of the class described conr prising a body having an annular chamber therein and inlet and outlet chambers arranged in pairs with the chambers of each pair arranged on each side ot the annular chamber, a rotor in said annular chamber having outer cimccntric part, and inner concentric parts connected together by tangential parts, said part. forming interior suction chambers and exterior explosion chambers, swinging abutmcnts in' the inlet and outlet chambers, spring means for holdii'ig said sudngiug almtmcnts in engagement with the rotor, transfer passages cxtemjling :l'rom the inlet chambers to the outlet chainbcrs, means 'l'or ill'll'lj the charge in said passages and means tor 'l'ceding the explosire vmixture to the inlet. 1

cnznnbers.

El. An engine oi the class described comprising a body having an annular chamber therein, a rotor in said chamber having outer concentric parts and inner concentric parts joined together by tangential parts, said parts t'orming interior suction chambers and exterior expansion chan'ibcrs, inlet and outlet chambe formed in the body and arranged in pairs with the chambers of each pair on each side of the annular chamber swinging aluitments in said chan'ibers,spring means for holding said. .-,=.\\*inging abntmcntn in engagement with the rotor, transfer pasconneeting the inlet chambers with the outlet chambers, nit-ans tor tiring the cl'iarge in said pa.-,-sagcmeans or feeding the explosire mixture to the inlet chambers and a centrifugal lubricating device carriedby the rotor.

-l-. An engine of the prising a body having class described com an annular chamber therein, inlet and outlet chambers arranged in pairs with the chambers of each pair located on each side o1 the annular chamber,

- a rotor in said annular chamber having outer concentric parts and inner concentric parts connected. together by tangential parts, said parts forming interior suction chambers and exterior expansion chambers which communicate with the inlet chambers, swinging abutments in said inlet and outlet chambers, spring means for holding said swinging abutments in engagement with the rotor, a transfer passage connecting each inlet cham her with the outlet chamber, means for firing the charge in said-passages, means for feeding explosive mixture to the inlet chambers, an axle passing through the body and rotatably mounted therein and means connecting one end ot the axle with the rotor.

5. An engine of the class described comprising a body having an annular chamber therein and inlet and outlet chambers arranged in. pairs with the chambers of each pair located on each side of the annular chamber, a rotor in said annular chamber formed of two outer concentric portions oppositely disposed and engaging the outer walls of the annular chamber and two other concentric portions engaging the inner w; lls ot' the chamber, said concentric port-ions being connected together by tangential portions, the outer concentric portions forming interior suction chambers and the inner concentric portions forming chambers for rcceiving the exploded ga s, swinging abutments arranged in said inlet and outlet passages, spring means :lior-holding said swing ing abutments in engagement with the rotor, transfer passages connecting the inlet chain-- bers with the outlet chambers, means for firing the charge in said pas-ages and means for feeding the explosive mixture to the inlet chambers.

6. An engine of the class described comprising a body lniving an annular chamber therein and inlet and outlet chambers arranged in pairs and the chan'ibers of each pair being located on dillerent sides of the annular chamber, a rotor in said annular chamber, swinging abutments in said inlet and outlet chambers, shafts rotatably mounted. in the body and carrying said swinging abnti'nents, a coiled s iring on each shaft, a link connecting the ends of the springs of each pair together, transfer passages connecting the inlet chambers with the outlet chambers, means for firing the charge in said passages and means for feeding the explosive mixture to the inlet chambers.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

JOHN GORDON PLEMMONS.

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